MELANEliPES FORMIdl VOIUTS— :\I. TOKQITATUS. 553 



MeLAXEKI'KS FOltMIClVOKITS. 

 C:ili to yiiaa Woodju'ckoD'. 



Picus formicivoms, Swainson, Syuoi). Buds Mcx , Thilos. M;ig., I, ISL'7, -i;;!». 



Melunerpes formivivorus, BonAP., Coiisp., 1,185(1,115. — Baird, B. N. Am., 1858, 

 114; Oat. N. Am. B., 1S59, No. 95.— Cooper, Oni. (Jul., 1, 187(1, 4(«.— (Joues, 

 Key, 1872, 197; Check List, 1873, No. 310.— B. B. & 11., Hist. N. Am. B., II, 

 1874, 5C6, pi. LIU, figs. 1, 2.— IlKNSHAW, 1875, ;;99. 



This handsome Woodpecker was observed only among the oaks in tlie 

 Sacramento Valley, where it sported among the trees along with Yellow- 

 billed Magpies and Valley Jays {Cyamcitta californica). We had no oppor- 

 tnnity to observe its habits closely. 



Melanerpes tokquatus. 



Lewis's Woodpecker. 



Pkm torqimtus, Wilson, Am. Oiii., IH, 1811, 31, i)l. 30, fig. 3. 



Melanerpcs torquatus, Bonap., Cousp., 1, 1850, 1 15. — Baikd, B. N. Am., 1858, 115; 

 Cat. N. Am. B., 1859, No. OC— Coopek, Oiii. Cal., 1, 1870, 400.— B. B. & E., 

 Hist. N. Am. B., II, 1874, 5G1, pi. Liv, fig. 5.— Hknshaw, 1875, 397. 



Astjndesmus torqimtm, Coues, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Pbila., 18GG, 5C; Key, 1872, 197; 

 Check List, 1873, No. 311; B.N.\Y., 1874,291. 



This very remarkable Woodpecker was found along the entire route, 

 from Sacramento eastward, but only in certain widely-separated localities. 

 It prefers the scattered trees of plains, or the mere edge of the denser 

 forests, and was consequently found most abundantly among the oaks of 

 the Sacramento Valley and the scattered |)ines along the eastern base 

 of the Sierra Nevada. None were seen among the cotton-woods of the 

 Truckee or Carson Rivers, while only a, few Avere noticed among the very 

 large aspens in the lower cafions of the East Humboldt Mountains, as well 

 as in similar groves along the sti'eams of the Upper Humboldt Valley. 

 None were observed in the Wahsatch or Uintah Mountains, nor in the Salt 

 Lake Valley. We cannot account for this apparent irregularity of its dis- 

 tribution, which is somewhat parallel to the case of Pica Jmdsoitim in the 

 same region. 



In its general habits and manners this beautiful species resembles quite 

 closely the eastern Red-headed Woodpecker (ilf. erytlirocephulus), being 



